Here is a question I have been thinking about a lot recently: Do the Rays really surrender all chances to make the playoffs if they trade David Price?
Obviously, they will be worse every five days. Also, clubhouse morale could plummet if Tampa Bay decides to trade its ace at a time when it is the hottest team in the majors. Plus, if Price is traded, then the likelihood that Ben Zobrist is moved also goes up, and Zobrist has been their best offensive player during this surge.
But even without Price, the Rays would have arguably the top rotation in the AL East with Alex Cobb, Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi and Jeremy Hellickson. Rays starters were 10-1 with a 1.67 ERA in the 12 games before Prices’ start Wednesday, and, obviously, that was not all Price. Plus, they could add a starter, maybe even in the trade for Price. For example, if Price were to go to St. Louis, Shelby Miller or Carlos Martinez or Joe Kelly could be a piece of the deal and go right into the Rays rotation.
As for morale, they do have the positive creativity and zaniness that is manager Joe Maddon. He stayed upbeat when the Rays were 18 games under on June 10 and promised better days to come – which they have. He was the skipper of Tampa Bay’s spectacular September run to the playoffs in 2011. Plus, he is the manager of the Rays. He knows the underdog, no-one-believes-in-us drill better than anyone – and uses it expertly to unify/motivate his group.
In some ways, the Rays might have a win-win decision with Price. If they hear an offer they love now, they can jump on it, which does not eliminate their 2014 chances while setting them up to continue playing well in the future.
If they hold onto Price, Tampa Bay is even better positioned to make a run this year. Then, in the offseason, the Rays can accept a very good rather than a great deal.
Again, they could probably look forward to having the best rotation in the division in 2015 with the aforementioned starters plus Matt Moore returning from Tommy John and whatever they get for Price.
So what the Rays can do between now and Thursday’s deadline is see whether they get an offer they can’t refuse for Price. If they do, they are not necessarily done with 2014 while being set up for 2015 and beyond. If it never materializes, they go for it in a stronger way this year and rejoin the Price trade talks already in progress come November.